Lauri Fortino's Blog, page 2
November 2, 2024
Happy (belated) Book Birthday to IN THE BEGINNING, GOD SMILED by David Lahm!
Title: In the Beginning, God Smiled
Author: David Lahm
Illustrator: Lael Brinkley
Publisher: Divine Rhyme Publishing
Release Date: October 4th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Summary: In the Beginning, God Smiled is a poetic journey that blends faith and science, beautifully depicting God’s creation of the universe through the Big Bang. This enchanting tale invites children to marvel at the cosmos, celebrate God’s work of creation, and join Him in His happiness.
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October 31, 2024
My View Book Review: KINGDOMS OF LIFE by Carly Allen-Fletcher
Title: Kingdoms of Life
Author: Carly Allen-Fletcher
Illustrator: Carly Allen-Fletcher
Publisher/Year: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2024
Format: Hardcover
Kingdoms of Life, by British children’s book author and illustrator Carly Allen-Fletcher, was published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers in 2024. This lushly illustrated nonfiction picture book with a gorgeous, eye-catching cover is overflowing with images and information about the six kingdoms of life-form classi...
September 18, 2024
Interview Alert: Stenetta Anthony
Please welcome award winning author Stenetta Anthony to Frog on a Blog! Stenetta has published three lovely picture books and is working on publishing a fourth. She was an elementary school teacher for many years before becoming an author, and this is what she said about her new life’s path: “This change in career has taken me to places that I never envisioned as a teacher.”
I love how Stenetta’s books often include animals, and it’s through the animals’ stories that kids learn self-love ...
September 11, 2024
My View Book Review: YOU STOLE MY NAME TOO by Dennis McGregor
Title: You Stole My Name Too
Author: Dennis McGregor
Illustrator: Dennis McGregor
Publisher/Year: Blue Star Press/2024
Format: Hardcover
You Stole My Name Too, written and illustrated by Dennis McGregor, was published by Blue Star Press in 2024. This beautiful over-sized picture book, called a “children’s coffee-table-art book”, follows You Stole My Name, which was chosen as a Kirkus Best Indie Picture Books in 2023. The “You Stole My Name” series continues with a thir...
September 4, 2024
Happy Book Birthday to THE ATTIC DOOR by Leslie Eva Tayloe!
Title: The Attic Door
Author: Leslie Eva Tayloe
Illustrator: David Barrow
Publisher: Doodle and Peck Publishing
Release Date: September 4th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Summary: Scary noises are coming from the creepy attic door in Eduardo’s bedroom. His imagination goes wild! When Eduardo finally gathers the courage to investigate, what does he find? This book is designed to build a child’s literacy skills and empower them to succeed. Inside the book, you will...
August 21, 2024
My View Book Review: HELLO, RAIN! by Katherine Pryor and Rose Soini
Title: Hello, Rain!
Author: Katherine Pryor
Illustrator: Rose Soini
Publisher/Year: Schiffer Kids/2024
Format: Board Book
It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a board book here on Frog on a Blog. But board books are essentially picture books, just in a different format. They’re for the littlest book aficionados, infants to about three years old. Thanks to their extra-sturdy covers, board books hold up well in the hands and mouths of these future readers.
Today, I’m ple...
August 9, 2024
My View Book Review(s): THE BOX by Isabella Paglia -and- THE THINGAMAJIG by Rilla Alexander (an animal mystery pb pairing)
You’ll meet lots of friendly animals and help them “solve” a mystery in both of these superb picture books. Mysteries are all about questions. The Box evokes the questions “Who’s in the box? How did they get here? And why won’t they come out?” While The Thingamajig will have readers asking “What is it? Where is it? And who took it?”
The Box , written by Isabella Paglia and illustrated by Paolo Proietti, was originally published in Italy in 2020, but has since been published in the US, in 2...
My View Book Review(s): THE BOX by Isabella Paglia -and- THE THINGAMAJIG by Rilla Alexander (an animal mystery pairing)
You’ll meet lots of friendly animals and help them “solve” a mystery in both of these superb picture books. Mysteries are all about questions. The Box evokes the questions “Who’s in the box? How did they get here? And why won’t they come out?” While The Thingamajig will have readers asking “What is it? Where is it? And who took it?”
The Box , written by Isabella Paglia and illustrated by Paolo Proietti, was originally published in Italy in 2020, but has since been published in the US, in 2...
July 23, 2024
My View Book Review(s): HARRIET’S REFLECTIONS by Marion Kadi -and- SOURGRASS by Hope Lim (an unexpected pairing)
Girls reign in these two lovely picture books, each uniquely illustrated and overflowing with color and character (and animals!).
Harriet’s Reflections, written and illustrated by Marion Kadi, was originally published in France in 2021, but has since been published in the US, in 2024, by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. This unusual book earned starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and BookPage. The story starts on a sad note, the death of a lion, but soon turns light-hearted when we se...
July 12, 2024
Packed With Facts: Animal-focused Nonfiction Picture Books (a roundup for Wild About Wildlife Month)
I just LOVE learning interesting facts about wild animals! I like discovering where they live, what they eat, and what their daily habits are, especially if they’re animals I’ve never heard of before. I bet you know some kids (or kids at heart) who love learning about animals too. And the more kids get to know them, the more they develop a fondness and, hopefully, compassion for the animals with whom we share the world.
I’ll admit that nonfiction picture books don’t get as much attention her...
